It sounds to me like 'the right tool for the right job' kind of answer, it all depends on what you are using it for. If nothing in particular (all styles) i would recommend the Strad... but i am biased!

If a Taylor X-Lite is a possibility, which is a little under $4000 if I remember right, I'm taking for granted price is not an issue, or at least much of an issue. So that price narrows it down to... just about anything except maybe a Monette. I'm also taking for granted you don't want crap trumpets so we'll go ahead and take cheap imports off the list.That narrows us down further to... still a very large selection. The problem is once you get down to the quality trumpets you'll find good reviews for all of them. Will you like them all just because other people like them? Probably not. Positive reviews are a good starting place, but that's all they are. I'd go into several music stores and just try everything they have. You might have to drive a while to find any stores with an actual selection (I'm driving 2 hours this summer to Columbus to go to some music stores), but in the end it would probably be worth it.Try everything and decide for yourself whether they play well for you and whether they'd be worth the $2000-4000. You'll find people on here who'll tell you that each of those trumpets on your list are the best, but that is only their personal opinions.

I think your best bet would be the Bach Strad, even though I'm not a real Bach fan. WHY do I recommend this? Because there are SO many of them out there, that you should be able to find many used horns in your area to try before you buy. Yamahas are also common, but I think I've seen more Bach Strads in consignment shops than any other brands.

Try horns and pick one that works for you. When I was your age or younger, my parents said they'd buy me a "professional" trumpet and we went to several stores in the Chicago area where I lived, and tried Bachs, Getzens, and a few others. After several weeks of trying horns, I chose the Getzen Eterna Severinsen model that I used for many years after that.

A used horn would be cheaper, too, and put less of a financial burden on you or your parents. Maybe it would leave some money for the later purchase of a C trumpet or a flugelhorn or a picc, depending on which way you want to go.

I think you are looking at horns from too a short horizon. You will have it until you graduate or sometime in college? I had mine from 9th grade until -well, I still have it. And it was my primary horn for 40 years, -which included a fairly heavy playing schedule through HS, college, grad school, and several years thereafter.

Horns are not like digital watches from Wal Mart. Typically, you don't get a new one when it is time to replace the battery. I think you will find that many of the top pros over the last 50 years got a horn and hung on to it.

Pick a good one and it will be like a wife. Sure, the newest, latest, busty model will come along every year, but you'll appreciate what you have. In fact, you'll likely say there is no comparison.

I second ClarkGuys comments. By the way, looks, color, etc., should always be secondary in your decision to playability.

If you want to consider outside the list you have provided, I would take a look at Kanstul. Do a web seach on Ziggy Kanstul and learn how he has influenced some of the best playable horns ever built (Olds, Benge). He now makes a line of horns that includes what many would call clones or copies of some of these historic fabulous horns -with improvements. Even his Bach Strad clone plays better than many Bachs -in my opinion. Try visiting a store that carries Kanstul and give every one there a try.